Airdrie 0 Hamilton 4: Fast start helps Accies cruise to derby win and pile misery on rock bottom Diamonds

A blistering start from Hamilton Accies earned the bragging rights on derby day, as rock-bottom Airdrie fell to a fourth consecutive Championship defeat.

Connor Smith's strike inside the second minute and a Sam Graham own goal with just nine minutes on the clock put Accies on easy street in North Lanarkshire, before Kevin O'Hara and substitute Dylan McGowan netted in the second half to seal the points.

John Rankin's men have now picked up back-to-back wins in the league to sixth and piled the misery on their neighbours, who have won just once in their last 14 games and remain four points adrift at the foot of the table ahead of a visit to leaders Falkirk next week.

The defeat for Airdrie also saw Rhys McCabe's side fail to score for the third game on the bounce.

Airdrie made four changes from Tuesday’s loss at Raith Rovers as out went goalkeeper Murray Johnson, Cammy Cooper, Rhys Armstrong and Murray Aiken. In came Kieran Wright, Chris Mochrie and Terrell Agyemang., while Lewis McGrattan returned from a two-game suspension. New signing Flynn Duffy started on the bench.

The visitors made one change from their 3-0 win over Morton last week with Steven Bradley replacing Ben Williamson in the midfield.

And within two minutes Accies were in front. A great counter-attacking move from Accies saw the ball worked to Steven Bradley and when his inital strike in the box was blocked, Smith kept his cool to smash home the rebound from just inside the box.

It was almost 2-0 just seconds later as rattled Airdrie almost shot themselves in the foot. Shaw pounced on a Sam Graham slip right on the edge of the penalty area and last week's hat-trick hero tried to curl a strike into the far corner, which Wright was able to parry away.

A small